Sunday, 14 December 2014

Rabbit Ings Walk

Our walking group walk today was slightly different to ones that we had done in the past. We are usually astounded by the fantastic scenery around us, but today we were in the middle of the old decimated South Yorkshire Mining heartland, on an old coal tip that has been handed back for nature to re model and reshape.

Long term readers will know that I get very excited about a "named" brick. Each colliery needed thousands and thousands of bricks and so they all had their own brickworks. Like the collieries, hardly any of these remain now.

So these that we found are like real treasure to me.

It is sad that these industries don't exist here now - so many jobs lost for the breadwinners of families, and nothing to replace them.

The old coking plant remains working here, but not for much longer. It has been the last independent producer of Coke in the country, but noticed has sadly been served to all the chaps working here - another loss of 140 jobs. I thought it looked mean and moody on our walk today - exceptionally spectacular and very photogenic.

And even though we had grey skies, from the top of the old tip, they too looked very spectacular.

They were holding a craft fair in the Tipi when we got back and they had a lovely warm fire going and a hot dog stand - which we partook in.

I didn't expect to enjoy this walk as much as I did. But it does make me sad to think we were here at the very end of this area's mining history.

Great photos, Diane - it is sad that all these industries have gone and that we import so much from abroad instead of making or supplying our own goods but the way these sites have been adapted and re-used is amazing too. Your photos of the old coking plant are wonderful.